Phosphor-containing coating systems and fluorescent lamps equipped therewith

Abstract

Coating systems suitable for use in generating fluorescent visible light, and lamps provided with such coating systems. The coating systems includes a phosphor-containing coating that contains at least a first phosphor that is predominantly excited by ultraviolet radiation of a first wavelength to emit visible light and absorbs but is less efficiently excited by ultraviolet radiation of a second wavelength. The coating system further includes a second phosphor that absorbs the ultraviolet radiation of the second wavelength and little if any of the ultraviolet radiation of the first wavelength.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention generally relates to lighting systems and related technologies. More particularly, this invention relates to phosphors and coating systems utilized by fluorescent lamps to generate visible light.

[0002] Fluorescent lamps have been in use and commercialization since the 1930s. More recently, both consumers and producers have voiced increased desire for energy efficiency and environmental impact of products, spanning all industries, including the lighting industry. As such, fluorescent lights have seen an increase in usage due to their increased energy efficiency when compared to conventional incandescent lights. Significant effort and research have been made in the interest of improving fluorescent light lumen output without increasing power requirements or significantly increasing material costs.

[0003] A nonlimiting example of a fluorescent lamp 10 is schematically represented in FIG. 1. The lamp 10 is represented as having a seale...

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0016]The invention will be described hereinafter in reference to the lamp 10 shown in FIG. 1 and similar lamps 30 and 40 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. For convenience, consistent reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to identify the same or functionally equivalent elements. It should be appreciated that the teachings of the invention are not limited to the lamps 10, 30 and 40 represented in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, and instead are more generally applicable to various applications in which visible light is generated with the use of phosphor compounds. It should also be noted that the drawings are drawn for purposes of clarity when viewed in combination with the following description, and therefore are not necessarily to scale.

[0017]The invention relates to coating systems that include a phosphor-containing coating, such as the phosphor-containing coating 22 of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, applied to a transparent or translucent substrate, such as the glass shell 12 of the fluorescent lamp 10. ...

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention generally relates to lighting systems and related technologies. More particularly, this invention relates to phosphors and coating systems utilized by fluorescent lamps to generate visible light.

[0002] Fluorescent lamps have been in use and commercialization since the 1930s. More recently, both consumers and producers have voiced increased desire for energy efficiency and environmental impact of products, spanning all industries, including the lighting industry. As such, fluorescent lights have seen an increase in usage due to their increased energy efficiency when compared to conventional incandescent lights. Significant effort and research have been made in the interest of improving fluorescent light lumen output without increasing power requirements or significantly increasing material costs.

[0003] A nonlimiting example of a fluorescent lamp 10 is schematically represented in FIG. 1. The lamp 10 is represented as having a seale...

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0016]The invention will be described hereinafter in reference to the lamp 10 shown in FIG. 1 and similar lamps 30 and 40 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. For convenience, consistent reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to identify the same or functionally equivalent elements. It should be appreciated that the teachings of the invention are not limited to the lamps 10, 30 and 40 represented in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, and instead are more generally applicable to various applications in which visible light is generated with the use of phosphor compounds. It should also be noted that the drawings are drawn for purposes of clarity when viewed in combination with the following description, and therefore are not necessarily to scale.

[0017]The invention relates to coating systems that include a phosphor-containing coating, such as the phosphor-containing coating 22 of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, applied to a transparent or translucent substrate, such as the glass shell 12 of the fluorescent lamp 10. ...

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